Australian carrier Qantas has launched a probe into a major cybersecurity breach that exposed sensitive details belonging to millions of its customers.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the airline said hackers had infiltrated a third-party platform used by one of its customer support centers.

The compromised system contained records of around six million people.

Qantas disclosed that the attackers may have accessed personal information, including customer names, email addresses, contact numbers, and dates of birth.

While the exact volume of stolen data is still under review, the airline warned the breach could be substantial.

The company was quick to reassure customers that no credit card information or passport details were stored on the affected platform.

It also emphasized that airline operations and passenger safety remain unaffected.

Chief Executive Officer Vanessa Hudson confirmed the incident had been reported to Australia’s National Cyber Security Coordinator.

She issued an apology to customers, acknowledging the distress such breaches can cause.

“We understand the trust our customers place in us when they share their personal information. We’re treating this matter with the seriousness it deserves,” Hudson stated.

This incident follows a separate privacy mishap in 2024 when a glitch in the Qantas mobile app briefly exposed some passenger information.

The breach adds to growing concerns over cybersecurity in Australia, which has faced a series of high-profile attacks in recent years.

In 2023, major ports came to a standstill after hackers targeted DP World systems.

And in 2022, both Optus and health insurer Medibank suffered massive data breaches, affecting millions of Australians.